Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has alleged that losses amounting to Rs. 7,672 million have been incurred due to the use of substandard coal, citing a letter issued by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
Ranawaka referred to a letter dated February 19 sent by CEB General Manager K.S.I. Kumara to the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee. According to the letter, eight coal shipments had been received under a new supplier as of February 19, and the total estimated loss associated with those shipments was calculated at Rs. 7,672 million.
The letter notes that the estimate was based on a worst-case scenario, assuming that the energy shortfall caused by the coal quality would need to be dispatched from the KCCP power plant at a rate of Rs. 57.53 per kWh. It further states that Specific Coal Consumption was calculated using the direct feeding rate over a short period by averaging the coal feeding rates of the units supplied from those shipments. Any penalty to be claimed from the supplier has not been factored into the loss calculation.
Ranawaka said he has already met leaders of several political parties to brief them on the matter and that a complaint, along with supporting information, was submitted to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on February 17 (NewsWire)
